I Dare You Podcast

Hosted by Darrin Johnson

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238

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Welcome to the I Dare You Podcast, a candid conversation with today's top entrepreneurs and business leaders about leading with more joy and purpose and living a meaningful life. This podcast is all about helping you break through and get after the life you desire. You'll be encouraged to live just outside your comfort zone and take the courageous next steps to become the person - and leader - you were meant to be.Leadership is an adventure, and the I Dare You Podcast will give you the inspirat

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August 11, 202627 min

Episode 238: Stop Trying to Be Interesting — Be Interested Instead with Darrin Johnson

What if the secret to being unforgettable isn’t being more impressive — but making other people feel more seen? In this episode of I Dare You , I’m sharing a simple, practical framework I call The Connection Code — five habits that will help you build stronger connection in every conversation: at home, at work, with your team, with your friends, and even with people you just met. Because connection is not charisma. It’s a skill. And you can practice it in the very next conversation you have. In this episode, I’ll show you how to ask better questions, listen with full attention, follow up in a way that builds trust, and use small moments to make people feel seen, valued, and remembered. You’ll learn: Why every conversation is an opportunity to build trust How to stop trying to be interesting and start becoming more interested The simple “second question” that opens the door to deeper connection Why full attention is one of the clearest ways to communicate value How better questions move conversations from facts to feelings to meaning The 10-second habit I use to help people feel remembered Why using someone’s name is one of the simplest ways to make them feel seen A 7-day challenge to practice connection in real life If you’ve been craving deeper connection — at home, at work, with your team, or with the people you love — hit play. I’m going to show you how small shifts in the way you listen, ask, remember, and respond can change the way people experience you. And as a special gift for I Dare You listeners, get access to the FREE Atomic Habits Toolkit , beautifully designed by Dani Saveker, to help you put the principles in the episode into practice. Go to idareyoupod.com to grab your FREE toolkit. No catch. Connect with Darrin Johnson: www.idareyoupod.com Instagram: @idareyoupod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDareYouPod TikTok: @idareyoupod

August 4, 202621 min

Episode 237: Do the Hard Thing Now & Make Life Easier Later with Darrin Johnson

In this solo episode of I Dare You, I’m breaking down one of the most powerful paradoxes for building the life you say you want: The disciplined life is an easier life. And the right sacrifices create more freedom. This episode is not about suffering for the sake of suffering. It’s about choosing what matters most over what feels good right now. If you feel like you’re working hard but not moving forward — or you keep telling yourself, “I’ll start when life slows down” — this episode is for you. Because life isn’t slowing down. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the three powerful forces that pull you off track: comfort, ego, and cravings. You’ll learn how to stop negotiating with yourself, do the hard thing early, protect your time and attention, and build momentum through small disciplined actions that compound over time. This is a practical, energizing episode designed to help you stop waiting, stop delaying, and start living with more discipline, confidence, joy, and purpose. And as a special gift for I Dare You listeners, get access to the FREE Atomic Habits Toolkit, beautifully designed by Dani Saveker, to help you put the principles in the episode into practice. Go to idareyoupod.com to grab your FREE toolkit. No catch. Connect with Darrin Johnson: www.idareyoupod.com Instagram: @idareyoupod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDareYouPod TikTok: @idareyoupod

July 28, 202635 min

Episode 236: If You’re Starting Over, Listen to This with Hannah Johnson

What do you do when life doesn’t go according to plan? In this deeply personal episode of I Dare You , I sit down with my daughter, Hannah Johnson — the first-ever third-time guest on the podcast — for an honest conversation about starting over after painful change. Recorded outside on the shore of a Minnesota lake during a family vacation, this unscripted conversation explores divorce, grief, relocation, career change, comparison, financial independence, faith, and the courage it takes to rebuild a life on your terms. Hannah’s previous episodes are among the most listened-to conversations we’ve released, but this one is different. It’s raw, real, and full of hard-earned wisdom for anyone navigating a reset they didn’t ask for. If you’re walking through change — or know someone who is — this episode is a reminder that your story is not over, and starting over may be one of the bravest things you ever do. Plus, I Dare You listeners get free access to the Atomic Habits-inspired Toolkit , created to help you reset, refocus, and build habits that move you toward the life you actually want. Get your free Atomic Habits Toolkit at idareyoupod.com . Connect with Hannah: Instagram: @hannahrenaejohnson Instagram: @bakingwithhannahrenae

July 21, 202642 min

Episode 235: Stop Saving Your Best Life for Retirement with DJ diDonna

If you’ve been running hard, holding everything together, and quietly wondering, Is this really the life I want? — this episode is for you. Today, I sit down with DJ DiDonna, Harvard Business School Senior Lecturer, founder of The Sabbatical Project, and author of Big Time Off: The Transformative Power of Sabbaticals and How to Take One . DJ has spent more than a decade studying what happens when people step away from work — not to escape their lives, but to finally pay attention to them. And what he has found will change the way you think about burnout, ambition, productivity, and your calendar. This conversation is about the power of a real reset: why vacations often aren’t enough, why high achievers wait too long to pause, and how extended time away can help you reconnect with your identity, purpose, relationships, and direction. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why burnout is not a personal failure — it’s a signal The difference between a vacation and a real sabbatical How time away can reset your identity, purpose, and priorities Why your biggest breakthroughs rarely happen when you’re grinding harder How to make extended time off feel practical, not impossible This episode is your permission slip to stop treating exhaustion like a badge of honor. Hit play — and learn why stepping away may be the most strategic move you ever make. Plus, I Dare You listeners get free access to the Atomic Habits-inspired Toolkit , created to help you reset, refocus, and build habits that move you toward the life you actually want. Get your free Atomic Habits Toolkit at idareyoupod.com . Follow DJ: https://djdidonna.com/ www.thesabbaticalproject.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djdidonna/

July 14, 202631 min

Episode 234: The ADHD Expert’s Guide to Procrastination, Focus, and Finally Getting Things Done with Dr. Russell Ramsay

What if the reason you’re not following through has nothing to do with being lazy? What if you’re not broken, unmotivated, or undisciplined? What if you just need a better way to get yourself started? In this must-listen episode of I Dare You , I sit down with Dr. Russell Ramsay , one of the world’s leading experts on adult ADHD. Dr. Ramsay is a psychologist specializing in the assessment and psychosocial treatment of adult ADHD, an internationally recognized speaker, a CHADD Hall of Fame inductee, and the author of six books — including his brand-new book, Once I Get Started: The Adult ADHD Program for Turning Your Intentions Into Actions . And this conversation is not just for people with ADHD. It’s for you if you’ve ever said, “I know what I need to do… so why am I not doing it?” Dr. Ramsay breaks down why procrastination is not always a willpower problem, why ADHD is so misunderstood, and why the gap between your intentions and your actions can be changed with small, practical strategies. This episode will help you understand your brain, stop beating yourself up, and take the next small step from stuck to started. Plus — this is a big deal — I Dare You listeners get FREE access to the Atomic Habits-inspired Toolkit , created to help you reset, refocus, and build the habits that move you toward the life you actually want. Get your FREE Atomic Habits Toolkit at idareyoupod.com . Listen now. Take the smallest next step. I dare you. Follow Dr. Russell Ramsay: www.cbt4adhd.com Instagram: @cbt4adhd

July 7, 202639 min

Episode 233: Why You Don’t Feel Like Yourself Anymore, And What Your Gut Is Trying to Tell You with Cynthia Thurlow

If you’re a woman at midlife and your body suddenly feels different — even though you’re doing “all the right things” — this episode will help you understand why. In this episode, Cynthia Thurlow, nurse practitioner, host of the Everyday Wellness podcast, international speaker, and bestselling author of the Menopause Gut: Balance Your Microbiome to Reclaim Your Health in Midlife and Beyond. With more than 25 years of experience in health and wellness — and over 15 million views on her TEDx talk about intermittent fasting — Cynthia is one of the leading voices helping women understand the powerful connection between hormones, metabolism, inflammation, and the gut microbiome. You’ll learn how your gut microbiome impacts your weight, inflammation, metabolism, mood, brain fog, sleep, immune system, and energy — and why so many midlife symptoms are biological signals, not personal failures. Cynthia also shares simple, practical steps you can start using today to support your body during menopause and perimenopause instead of fighting against it. This conversation will help you stop blaming yourself, better understand your body, and advocate for the care and support you deserve. Because once you understand what’s happening, you can finally do something about it. And as a special gift for I Dare You listeners, get access to your FREE Atomic Habits Mid-Year Resolution Toolkit to help you reflect, refocus, and build the habits that will help you reach your goals faster and to help you live with more joy and purpose. Go to idareyoupod.com to grab your FREE toolkit. No catch. Connect with Cynthia: Instagram:@cynthia_thurlow_ X/Twitter: @_CynthiaThurlow Youtube: @Cynthiathurlow Podcast: Everyday Wellness Website: www.cynthiathurlow.com

June 30, 202626 min

Episode 232: Mid-Year Resolutions Made Simple: The Atomic Habits-Inspired Toolkit with Darrin Johnson

If you started the year with big goals but your habits have started to slip, this episode is your mid-year check-in. You don’t need to wait for January to begin again. You don’t need to tear your life apart or make some massive dramatic change. You need a Mid-Year Resolution — a simple waypoint to pause, check your coordinates, and ask: Am I still becoming the person I said I wanted to become? In this solo episode, I use the principles of Atomic Habits by James Clear to help you reset your systems, rebuild momentum, and make the second half of the year even stronger than the first. Because the truth is: you don’t rise to the level of your goals — you fall to the level of your systems. And every small action you take is casting a vote for the leader, parent, spouse, friend, and person you are becoming. In this episode, I will help you: Celebrate the small wins you’ve already earned Identify where your habits and systems have drifted Stop “driving with the parking brake on” Rebuild the fundamentals: sleep, nutrition, and movement Create better cues, routines, and rhythms for the second half of the year Build your “second scoreboard” so your identity is bigger than your work This is about making your habits obvious, your systems stronger, and your next step simple. And as a special gift for I Dare You listeners, Darrin is offering the FREE Atomic Habits Mid-Year Resolution Toolkit , beautifully designed by Dani Saveker, to help you reflect, refocus, and build the habits that will carry you through the second half of the year. Go to idareyoupod.com to grab your FREE toolkit. No catch. Connect with Darrin Johnson: www.idareyoupod.com Instagram: @idareyoupod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDareYouPod TikTok: @idareyoupod

June 23, 202635 min

Episode 231: The Real Reason You Crash at 2PM with Adam Kingl

In this episode of I Dare You , I’m joined by author, keynote speaker, and executive educator Adam Kingl —co-author of the wildly fresh new book, EXECUTIVE EATS: The Cookbook for a Better Working Life . Here’s the big idea: your leadership doesn’t start with what you know—it starts with how you feel. Your energy. Your focus. Your mood. Your ability to stay steady under pressure. And Adam makes the case (with real research + real-life practicality) that one of the most overlooked performance tools isn’t another productivity hack… it’s nutrition —and the act of cooking itself. We talk about why so many high performers are running on fumes, why “powering through” eventually backfires, and how the creative arts—especially culinary art—can train you to become more innovative, adaptable, and mentally sharp. This conversation will challenge the way you think about food, leadership, and what it really means to show up as your best self for the people who depend on you. If you’ve ever hit that 2pm crash, struggled to concentrate, felt your mood hijacked by stress, or wondered why you can’t sustain the level you know you’re capable of… this one’s for you. In this episode, we cover: Why top performers are paying the price physically (and what to do about it) The link between nutrition, sustained energy, mood, and focus How cooking can actually become a mindfulness practice (not just another task) Why creativity is a trainable skill —and what chefs can teach leaders about it Simple, practical ways to eat for performance without making life complicated About Adam: Adam Kingl is the author of Next Generation Leadership and Sparking Success (shortlisted for the Business Book Awards). He teaches and advises globally, with faculty roles at University College London, Hult Ashridge, London Business School, the University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London. He trained at Le Cordon Bleu in California, cooked in a professional kitchen, and now blends leadership development with performance science in a way that’s both inspiring and ridiculously actionable. Get the book: EXECUTIVE EATS Learn more about Adam: https://adamkingl.com/

June 16, 202642 min

Episode 230: Stop Trying to Do It All: Your Father’s Day Wake-Up Call with Jay Bilas

Stop trying to do it all. This Father’s Day episode is your wake-up call—how to be the kind of dad, spouse, and leader who shows up when it matters . My special guest is Jay Bilas. You know Jay as one of ESPN’s most trusted basketball voices. He joined ESPN in 1995 and has spent decades on the biggest stages in the sport, from College GameDay to the top men’s college matchups every week, plus NBA Draft coverage and major studio shows. He is also the New York Times bestselling author of Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court. Jay was a four-year starter at Duke under Mike Krzyzewski from 1982 to 1986. His 1986 Duke team set the NCAA record for the most wins in a single season with 37. While Jay was an assistant coach under Krzyzewski, the Blue Devils won back-to-back National Championships in 1991 and 1992. Jay has also distinguished himself on Twitter, having been named to Sports Illustrated’s “Twitter 100” for being among the 100 most essential Twitter follows in sports, and one of the 25 Most Powerful People in Sports Media by The Big Lead. Since 1992, Jay has been a licensed attorney with the law firm of Moore & Van Allen, PLLC, where he has specialized in commercial litigation. He serves on the National Board of the Coaches vs. Cancer Organization, the Board of Advisors of the Duke Brain Tumor Center, and the Board of Directors of The V Foundation for Cancer Research. This conversation isn’t about basketball. It’s about presence , priorities , and the quiet power of doing the right things when nobody’s watching. In this episode, Jay gets real about: Why preparation is a form of toughness —and how it creates calm and confidence The trap of believing you can “ have it all ” (and what to do instead) The Father’s Day truth that hits hard: what your family actually needs from you What kids remember most—and the simple standard that changes everything Jay’s one-line job description for fathers: “Be there 100% when you’re there.” This is your Father’s Day wake-up call. Listen—and then make one change your family will feel this week. Follow Jay: @jbillis on X and Instagram.

June 9, 202620 min

Episode 229: The Summer Reset: Why You Quit What Works with Darrin Johnson

Summer is where routines go to die. Later nights. More travel. More “we’ll get back on track Monday.” And then it’s Labor Day… and you feel worse than you did in June. In this episode, I’m giving you a Summer Fundamentals Reset—a simple, no-drama way to stop drifting and get back to basics without turning your life into a giant self-improvement project. Because the truth is: when life gets loud (and summer gets loose), even high performers start handing themselves permission slips: Skip the workout. Stay up late. Drink more. Eat like a teenager. “I’ll lock in later.” And later becomes never. So here’s what we’re doing instead: fundamentals. You’ll learn: Why successful people quietly abandon the basics (and how it happens without you noticing) The one trap that’s costing you momentum: comfort disguised as “skipping” Why your brain starts “shopping for novelty” when momentum stalls A simple framework you can steal today: The Summer Fundamentals Reset — Call It. Pick It. Protect It. A Summer Reset challenge to start in the next 24 hours (choose it → prove it → lock it in) This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about feeling clear, energized, and present again—so you can actually enjoy your summer. Don’t use summer as an excuse. Use summer as your reset. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Grab your FREE, custom-designed PDFs (inspired by Start With Why by Simon Sinek) at idareyoupod.com : 5 “Why discovery” questions Daring Purpose Tool (Belief → Action → Results → One sentence) Start With Why Visual Synopsis (WHY / HOW / WHAT + trust + consistency) Connect with Darrin Johnson: www.idareyoupod.com Instagram: @idareyoupod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDareYouPod TikTok: @idareyoupod